Richard Zelman MD

Breathing difficulties don't necessarily indicate a heart attack, but if they occur unannounced and you experience other indicators of one, it is wise to consult your physician immediately. As an example, you might notice yourself getting winded more easily when exercising or walking up stairs; having difficulty breathing when lying down; coughing up bloody-looking spit; experiencing an irregular and rapid heartbeat or blue or gray skin color; neck or jaw pain is an indicator that something may be off. Women are particularly prone to these symptoms even without experiencing chest discomfort. Dr Richard Zelman MD emphasizes that plaque build-up in the arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood to the heart can hinder its proper function and cause irreparable damage, so we must be aware of potential signs of heart attacks as soon as they emerge and recognize them quickly if one should occur.

 When we think of heart attacks, they usually conjure images from movies — someone clutching their chest and collapsing. In reality, however, most heart attacks don’t start suddenly — they typically begin slowly. They may be challenging to recognize as heart attacks because their symptoms mimic other conditions, such as acid reflux or influenza. As per Dr Richard Zelman , chest pain or pressure may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or tightening and can spread to other body parts — including arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. This could be the early warning sign of a heart attack, so medical attention must be sought immediately. Concern should arise if pain increases with activity or rest, as this indicates inadequate blood flow to your heart. Other warning signs could include lightheadedness or feeling as though you could pass out, sweating, nausea, and vomiting are other symptoms to be aware of.

  Dr. Richard Zelman   With direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, a balloon catheter is threaded up to the site of a blockage in an artery. When the balloon is inflated, it pushes arterial plaque against the wall of the artery to restore vessel patency. During the angioplasty procedure, a stent, that is, a small, hollow metallic tube, can be inserted to prevent reocclusion. The main benefits of primary angioplasty are the immediate restoration of blood flow without the life-threatening hemorrhagic complications of the pharmacologic agents, an efficacy rate of greater than 90%, and a reocclusion rate of less than 10%. 1,2   Schomig et al 3   recently concluded, “In patients with acute myocardial infarction, coronary stenting plus abciximab leads to a greater degree of myocardial salvage and a better clinical outcome than does fibrinolysis with a tissue plasminogen activator.” Angioplasty requires a skilled catheterization team, appropriate facilities,...

  Dr. Richard Zelman    Cape Cod Hospital will continue to perform emergency angioplasties for the time being, but no longer as part of a Johns Hopkins study. State Department of Public Health officials will help to set up a registry for emergency angioplasty patients, said department spokesman Mark Leccese. Once that is established, Cape Cod Hospital and other community hospitals that had been part of the Johns Hopkins study can apply to participate in the registry, Leccese said. In the meantime, the four community hospitals can continue to perform the procedure on patients in the midst of heart attacks. "This is very good news for the people of Cape Cod, because it means a service we know is life-saving will be available here," said Deborah Dougherty, spokeswoman for Cape Cod Healthcare Inc., the parent company of Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals. She said Cape Cod Hospital should not have any trouble getting on a registry. She said study results indicate emergency angio...

  It was nice to read some good news for a change in your online article on the nationwide reduction in time between the arrival of a heart attack patient at a hospital and the insertion of a balloon stent, increasing chances of survival (“US hospitals set record for fast heart attack care,” capecodonline.com, July 31). However, you missed a chance to show that our local health care system is far ahead of most of the rest of the country. Nearly 10 years ago, Dr. Richard Zelman and his team, with the cooperation of other departments at Cape Cod Hospital, reduced the so-called “door to balloon” time to an unheard-of 60 minutes or less. Instead of waiting for the heart attack patient to be seen by an emergency room physician, then for a cardiologist to confirm the problem and for cardiac lab folks to arrive, he persuaded all the Cape towns to install updated electrocardiogram and fax machines in their ambulances, taught all emergency medical services personnel to read EKGs and gave t...

  Dr. Richard Zelman , MD is a cardiology specialist in Hyannis, MA and has 40 years experience. They graduated from University Of Texas Health Sciences Center At San Antonio Long School Of Medicine. They currently practice at Ascension Medical Group Genesys Heart Center and are affiliated with Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital. At present, Dr. Zelman received an average rating of 4.5/5 from patients and has been reviewed 11 times. Their office is not accepting new patients. Dr. Zelman is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease and accepts multiple insurance plans.

The journey of a patient under the care of a cardiologist often starts with the sobering moment of diagnosis. Heart conditions can be daunting, and the expertise of a cardiologist is crucial in understanding the intricacies of the disease and formulating an effective treatment plan. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to personalized care, these medical professionals guide their patients through the labyrinth of tests, procedures, and medications. Beyond the clinical aspects, the genuine concern and empathy displayed by cardiologists become a source of solace for patients and their families. Facing a cardiac diagnosis can be emotionally overwhelming, and the ability of a cardiologist to communicate effectively and offer reassurance fosters a healing environment from the very beginning. As medical science advances, so does the arsenal of treatments available to cardiologists. From groundbreaking surgical procedures to state-of-the-art interventions, these specialists combine...